Our Mission
WISER empowers girls and communities through transformative education and (w)holistic health.
Our Community
Becky Grantland first heard about WISER when her daughter, Liddy, lived on WISER’s campus for a summer as a part of DukeEngage. A former English professor, a current school administrator, and a mother of two daughters, Becky resonated with WISER’s mission of education and empowerment, and has committed to donating to WISER monthly.
Quote: “Education is freedom: educated women are able to transform their own lives and the lives of their children. Your monthly gift has the potential to change the world.”
Melissa first heard about WISER at a fundraiser, where Madame Dorcas, WISER’s principal, shared about the empowerment of girls in Muhuru Bay. In 2013, she joined a Johnson and Johnson team on campus--and she never wanted to leave! Twice, her husband, Michael Freidberg has joined her and in 2019, her daughter, Annie, made the trip for the first time. Melissa now serves on WISER International’s board. She is passionate about sharing WISER’s impact with the world.
Quote: “If you give to WISER, you’re having such a huge impact on the trajectory of someone’s life in such a positive way. It feels good to know that one more life has improved because of the work we’re doing at WISER.”
Eileen Vergino is passionate about seeing more women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), so she fit right in at WISER when she visited in 2017. What most impressed her was how committed students were not only to pursuing big, global dreams, but also, with transforming their local context. She loves how WISER creates role models so that young women in Muhuru Bay can pursue their dreams without limits.
Quote: “When I was at WISER, I loved spending time with the girls as they thought about problems, brainstormed solutions, and thought about how they could change their communities for the better. They’re not me-centered. They’re centered on ‘we’ and ‘us.’ That’s incredibly powerful.”